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Chemical Industry News
Limited impact on US LNG flows as charter rates come under pressure
LNG charter rates lower, but limited trade flow impact Lower shipping costs could pressure Europe-Asia spreads Europe to retain premium position amid muted Asian LNG demand LONDON (ICIS)--European...
Plant status: Sarzyna Chemical’s Polish epoxy operations back online after holiday shutdown
LONDON (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Sarzyna Chemical Location: Nowa Sarzyna, Poland Product: Epoxy resins Capacity (tonnes/year): 30,000 Event start: Second week of December Event...
Europe MEK pricing stable, demand at seasonal low
LONDON (ICIS)--European spot pricing for methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is stable at €1,040-1,110/tonne FD (free delivered) NWE (northwest Europe) as public holidays severely limit activity. Activity...
Summary of 2026 Americas Outlook Stories
HOUSTON (ICIS)--Here are the 2026 Americas Outlook stories which ran on ICIS news from 22 December 2025 to 2 January 2026. Click on a headline to read the full story. OUTLOOK ’26: US economy to
Europe OX contract price down €40/tonne in January amid lower upstream costs
LONDON (ICIS)--The Europe orthoxylene (OX) contract price for January has declined by €40/tonne month on month, mainly driven by softer feedstock mixed xylenes (MX) costs. The settlement agreed...
Europe IPA pricing stable, demand yet to rise from low season
LONDON (ICIS)--European spot pricing for isopropanol (IPA) is stable across assessed grades amid seasonally limited activity. Technical grade IPA pricing stands at €930-980/tonne FD (free...
India’s BPCL awards work for PP and butene-1 units at Bina refinery
LONDON (ICIS)--India’s Bharat Petroleum Corp Limited (BPCL) has awarded an engineering contract for new polypropylene (PP) and butene-1 units at its Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh state, officials...
One year on, Trump’s second term has upended US science
Fears that the president’s return to the White House would seriously damage science agencies and universities have been borne out
Some voices conspicuously silent when it comes to Trump’s science policies
Research-intensive universities have been targeted in an unprecedented and unrelenting manner since Donald Trump retook the White House on 20 January. In April, nearly a third of the 6000-plus members of the US National Academies
BASF completes commissioning of Zhanjiang cracker in China
LONDON (ICIS)--BASF has completed the start-up of the cracker at its new Zhanjiang, China, Verbund site, the Germany-based producer said on Wednesday. The 1 million tonne/year cracker will be the...
Venezuela crisis boosts case for new Canada oil export pipeline
TORONTO (ICIS)--While the sudden change in Venezuela's leadership will likely have only little immediate impact on Canada’s oil producers, it strengthens the case for building a new export...
Austrian state lender backs OMV green hydrogen plant with funding of €123m
LONDON (ICIS)--OMV and Austria’s federal promotional bank Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws) have signed an agreement that will guarantee production funding of up to €123 million for its...
Summary of 2026 Europe Outlook Stories
LONDON (ICIS)--Here are the 2026 Europe Outlook stories which ran on ICIS news from 22 December 2025 to 2 January 2026. OUTLOOK ’26: Europe PE to face shifting dynamics, with market adjustment...
MOVES: Thailand’s IVL reorganizes management structure following D.K. Agarwal retirement
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Indorama Ventures Ltd (IVL) is reorganizing its management structure following the retirement of deputy group CEO D.K. Agarwal, the Thai producer said on Wednesday. Sanjay Ahuja, an...
Plant status: India’s GNFC shuts TDI plant for unplanned maintenance
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers (GNFC) Location: Dahej, India Product: Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) Capacity (tonnes/year): 50,000 Event start:...
Plant status: China’s Wanhua Chemical shuts BDO plant
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Wanhua Chemical Location: Sichuan, China Product: 1,4-butanediol (BDO) Capacity (tonnes/year): 100,000 Event start: Early January 2026 Event...
US CX January contract slides lower with energy costs
LONDON (ICIS)--The US cyclohexane (CX) contract price for January 2026 decreased by more than 4% from December. US CX January contracts were valued at $3.01/gal FOB USG. The US CX contract price is...
Eurozone inflation softens to 2% in December on lower energy pricing
LONDON (ICIS)--Inflation in the eurozone cooled slightly month on month to 2% in December, driven by a decline in energy pricing compared to the previous month, according to flash data from...
Plant status: Taiwan’s CPDC Kaohsiung capro plant operating at 70-75%
SINGAPORE (ICIS)--Here is a plant status report: Name: Caprolactam China PC Dev Corp (CPDC) Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan Product: Caprolactam (capro) Capacity (tonnes/year): 200,000 (No 3) Event...
Eurozone construction contraction eases on stronger German activity
LONDON (ICIS)--The eurozone construction downturn eased slightly month on month in December after the German market marked its first increase since April 2022. The eurozone construction sector...